Thiruvananthapuram, April 24 -- Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday advised the public to avoid stepping out between 11 am and 3 pm amid rising temperatures across the State.

Urging extreme caution, the Chief Minister suggested that people should treat this period as a "self-lockdown," reminiscent of the COVID-19 phase, and refrain from unnecessary travel and outdoor work.

The advisory comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially issued a heatwave warning for Palakkad, Kollam, and Thrissur districts, with temperatures soaring above 40degC. Due to high humidity levels, the heat is being felt intensely in other districts as well, prompting the Chief Minister's call for heightened vigilance to ensure public s...